October heralds the onset of Principal Appreciation Month, a time of great significance when we collectively pay tribute to the vital roles our educational leaders play.
With unwavering dedication, innovative thinking and collaborative efforts, our principals serve as beacons of inspiration for their students, a source of empowerment for families and builders of trust within the communities they diligently serve. Interestingly, these sentiments originate from a communication I received from Chicago Public Schools while preparing this article.
However, recent years have witnessed the removal of nine principals due to disciplinary actions or investigations stemming from allegations of “serious misconduct.” It is worth noting that, among this group, six individuals are Black men.
Shedding light on this issue, I had the privilege of engaging in a virtual conversation with Abdul Muhammad, one of the six principals mentioned above. He formerly held the principal position at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, a highly regarded selective enrollment high school in West Englewood on Chicago’s South Side.
Muhammad conveys the impression of diligently pursuing his vision for the school throughout his tenure.
From the beginning, he asserts that he faced an elevated level of scrutiny and was held to a higher standard than his peers, attributing this differential treatment to his identity as a Black Muslim.
Controversies and Microagressions: A Black Principal’s Tenure at Lindblom
As Muhammad describes it, his tenure at Lindblom was marked by numerous “microaggressions” and resistance from faculty and district leaders regarding what he perceives as minor and inconsequential matters.
He firmly asserts that “false claims” led to his removal and maintains, “I did not engage in any wrongdoing.”
According to Muhammad, there has been an ongoing campaign against him since his initial days at Lindblom.
The administration of Chicago Public Schools claims to have amassed “evidence” supporting 18 allegations against Muhammad. These allegations encompass various concerns, including what they deem “unusual hiring practices,” neglect in addressing concerns related to a severely disabled special education student, lapses in conducting background checks for performers at a school pep rally, deficiencies in staff training for reporting safety incidents within the CPS system and the persistence of “critical inaccuracies” in special education procedures and record-keeping.
It is noteworthy that neither Muhammad’s alleged failure to report sexual misconduct nor the incident involving the special education student factored into his disciplinary action. A letter shared with the Sun-Times and WBEZ indicates that only six of the original 18 “substantiated findings” were cited, including background check violations and ongoing special education inaccuracies.
In his defense, Muhammad vehemently contests the claims contained within the “documented report.”
He also disputes allegations such as taking a student to a Citgo gas station, arriving late at Lindblom on a snowy day and failing to provide coverage for classes and school activities on that specific occasion. It is important to note that the faculty members reporting these findings were absent from work on the day of the alleged incident.
Furthermore, there are suggestions that Muhammad’s faith may have played a role in the disciplinary actions taken against him. Historically, beliefs held by those outside the Black community have portrayed his religion as “anti-establishment,” with many corporate and predominantly White institutions viewing the Nation of Islam negatively.
Black Principal Dismissals: A Pattern of Discrimination?
However, the central question is whether these procedural and bureaucratic infractions, in isolation, justify the removal of a principal from their position.
In an official statement, the Chicago Public Schools authority noted that principals “may be removed or reassigned during serious misconduct investigations or termination proceedings.” It’s worth noting that CPS did not offer a specific definition of “serious misconduct.”
Renowned trial attorney Ben Crump, known for his work in civil rights cases, has alleged that CPS has been systematically targeting Black principals. He accuses the district of discrimination and corruption concerning dismissing several Black principals within the CPS system and has called for a comprehensive investigation. Crump emphasized, “When it happens three times, four times, five times, six times, seven times, it is a pattern and practice of discrimination against Black principals.”
Troy LaRaviere, the current Chicago Principals & Administrators Association (CPAA) president, joined Mr. Muhammad on the Zoom call.
Mr. LaRaviere hinted at the possibility that Mr. Muhammad and the other five Black male principals who were terminated may have a different narrative to share, one that transcends mere school policy and procedure.
Mr. LaRaviere presented a map illustrating the locations where Black male principals were dismissed and noted that a common factor among these schools is their location in rapidly gentrifying areas. He also provided insights into the process of removing a principal from a school and pointed out that removing nine principals in such a short span of time is unprecedented.
Efforts to reach out to several other school officials who faced termination or were encouraged to retire revealed a common reluctance to speak publicly about their experiences. Only one individual was willing to share their perspective off the record, provided that their name and school of employment were not disclosed.
This individual intimated that racial biases may be at play in these dismissals and may be politically motivated in the context of Chicago’s ongoing transformation. They suggested that CPS could be a pawn in a larger game involving political representatives, big businesses, gentrifying communities and the expectations of new residents regarding the type of education they desire.
Chicago is undergoing a profound transformation, with the South and West sides no longer serving as the exclusive hubs of Black life. The city is experiencing a surge in diversity, the arrival of immigrants from Texas, and a notable exodus of African Americans.
This demographic shift presents a complex backdrop against which the removal of these principals unfolds, making it challenging to discern definitively the underlying reasons for their dismissal.
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